Distance-measuring device of measuring distance according to variation of imaging location and calibrating method thereof

ABSTRACT

A distance-measuring device is utilized for measuring a measured distance between a measured object and the distance-measuring device. The distance-measuring device reduces the effect of a background light and a flicking light by removing the part corresponding to the background light and the flicking light from light-sensed signals generated by an image sensor of the distance-measuring device. In addition, the distance-measuring device calculates a calibrating parameter for calibrating an assemble-error angle of the distance-measuring device, according to an imaging location of a reflective light obtained by measuring a calibrating object with a predetermined distance. In this way, the distance-measuring device can correctly calculate out the measured distance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a distance-measuring device, and more particularly, to a distance-measuring device of measuring distance according to variation of imaging location.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art, the distance-measuring device emits a detecting light to a measured object, and receives a reflecting light generated by the measured object reflecting the detecting light. The distance-measuring device calculates the distance between the measured object and the distance-measuring device according to the variation of the imaging location of the reflecting light. However, when the distance-measuring device senses the reflecting light from the measured object, the distance-measuring device is affected by the background light and the flicker phenomenon (for instance, the flicker of the fluorescent lamp caused by the frequency of the AC power supply) at the same time. Hence, the distance-measuring device calculates an incorrect measured distance because of the above-mentioned reason. Moreover, since the locations of the components of the distance-measuring device may shift or rotate due to the assembling error during the fabrication, the accuracy of the measured distance obtained by the distance-measuring device is further deteriorated, causing a great inconvenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a distance-measuring device of measuring distance according to variation of imaging location. The distance-measuring device has a lighting component, a first lens, and an image sensor. The lighting component is utilized for emitting a detecting light to a measured object for the measured object generating a reflecting light. The first lens is utilized for focusing a background light or the reflecting light. The image sensor is utilized for sensing an energy of a light focused by the first lens so as to generate M light-sensed signals. The distance-measuring device comprises a lighting/sensing controlling circuit, and a distance-calculating circuit. The lighting/sensing controlling circuit is utilized for controlling the lighting component to emit the detecting light and controlling the image sensor to sense the energy of the light focused by the first lens at the same time during a distance-sensing phase, so that the image sensor generates M first light-sensed signals, and for controlling the lighting component not to emit the detecting light and controlling the image sensor to sense the energy of the light focused by the first lens at the same time during a noise-sensing phase, so that the image sensor generates M second light-sensed signals. M represents a positive integer. The distance-calculating circuit is utilized for determining an imaging location of the reflecting light on the image sensor according to the M first light-sensed signals and the M second light-sensed signals, and calculating a measured distance between the distance-measuring device and the measured object according to the imaging location, a focus length of the first lens, and a predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor.

The present invention further provides a calibrating method. The calibrating method is utilized for calibrating a distance-measuring device of measuring distance according to variation of imaging location. A lighting component of the distance-measuring device emits a detecting light to a measured object. The measured object reflects the detecting light to an image sensor of the distance-measuring device for imaging at a first imaging location. The distance-measuring device calculates a measured distance between the measured object and the distance-measuring device according to the first imaging location, a focus length of a first lens of the distance-measuring device, and a predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor. The calibrating method comprises the lighting component of the distance-measuring device emitting the detecting light to a calibrating object, and the calibrating object reflecting the detecting light to the image sensor of the distance-measuring device for imaging at a second imaging location, calculating out a calibrating parameter for calibrating an assembling-error angle according to a known distance and the second imaging location, and the distance-measuring device calculating out the calibrated measured distance according to the calibrating parameter. A distance between the distance-measuring device and the calibrating object is the known distance.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams illustrating the structure and the operation principle of a distance-measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation principle of the distance-measuring device reducing the flicker phenomenon according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a calibrating method of calibrating the lighting-error angle of the detecting light emitted by the lighting-component.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams illustrating a calibrating method of calibrating sensing-error angles rotated by the image sensor because of the assembling error.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an image sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation principle of detecting the imaging location of the reflecting light by the image sensor of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an image sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation principle of detecting the imaging location of the reflecting light by the image sensor of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an image sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a distance-measuring device of measuring distance according to the variation of the imaging location. The distance-measuring device of the present invention reduces the effect of the background light and the flicker phenomenon by removing the parts of background light and the flicking light from the light-sensed signals generated by the image sensor. In addition, the present invention further provides a calibrating method for calibrating the assembling error of the distance-measuring device, so as to improve the accuracy of measuring the distance.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams illustrating the structure and the operation principle of a distance-measuring device 100 according to the present invention. The distance-measuring device 100 measures distance according to the variation of the imaging location. More particularly, the distance-measuring device 100 measures the measured distance D_(M) between the measured object MO and the distance-measuring device 100. The distance-measuring device 100 comprises a lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110, a lighting component 120, an image sensor 130, a distance-calculating circuit 140, a parameter-calculating circuit 150, and a lens LEN₁. The coupling relations between the components of the distance-measuring device 100 are shown in FIG. 1, and hence will not be repeated again for brevity.

The lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates a lighting pulse signal S_(LD), a shutter pulse signal S_(ST), a phase signal S_(P), a reading signal S_(RE), and a known-distance signal S_(D). Measuring the distance by the distance-measuring device 100 can be divided into two phases: 1. distance-sensing phase; 2. noise-sensing phase. During the distance-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the lighting pulse signal S_(LD) representing “lighting” and the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) representing “turning-on”, wherein the pulse widths of the lighting pulse signal S_(LD) representing “lighting” and the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) representing “turning-on” are both equal to T_(C). Then the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the reading signal S_(RE) representing “reading” and the phase signal S_(P) representing “sum”, wherein the pulse widths of the reading signal S_(RE) representing “reading” and the phase signal S_(P) representing “sum” are both equal to T_(R). During the noise-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) representing “turning-on” and the lighting pulse signal S_(LD) represents “not-lighting” at the time, wherein the pulse width of the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) representing “turning-on” during the noise-sensing phase is still equal to T_(C). Then the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the reading signal representing “reading” and the phase signal S_(P) representing “noise”, wherein the pulse widths of the reading signal S_(RE) representing “reading” and the phase signal S_(P) representing “noise” are still both equal to T_(R).

The lighting component 120, according to the lighting pulse signal S_(LD), emits a detecting light L_(ID) to the measured object MO, so that the measured object MO generates a reflecting light L_(RD). More particularly, when the lighting pulse signal S_(LD) represents “lighting”, the lighting component 120 emits the detecting light L_(ID) to the measured object MO; when the lighting pulse signal S_(LD) represents “not-lighting”, the lighting component 120 does not emit the detecting light L_(ID). In addition, the lighting component 120 can be a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) or a laser diode. When the lighting component 120 is an LED, the distance-measuring device 100 selectively comprises a lens LEN₂ for focusing the detecting light L_(ID) emitting to the measured object MO.

The lens LEN₁ focuses a background light L_(B) or the reflecting light L_(RD) to the image sensor 130. The image sensor 130 comprises M sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M). In the present embodiment, the M sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) are illustrated to be arranged side by side for example. The width of each sensing unit is equal to a pixel width W_(PIX). That is, the total width of the M sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) arranged side by side is equal to (M×W_(PIX)). The sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) sense the energy of the light focused by the lens LEN₁ according to the shutter pulse signal S_(ST). More particularly, when the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) represents “turning-on”, the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) sense the energy of the light (for example, the background light L_(B) or the reflecting light L_(RD)) focused by the lens LEN₁ so as to generate the light-sensed signal; when the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) represents “turning-off”, the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) do not sense the energy of the light focused by the lens LEN₁. For example, when the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) represents “turning-on”, the sensing unit CS₁ senses the energy of the light focused by the lens LEN₁ so as to generate the light-sensed signal S_(LS1), the sensing unit CS₂ senses the energy of the light focused by the lens LEN₁ so as to generate the light-sensed signal S_(LS2), . . . , and the sensing unit CS_(M) senses the energy of the light focused by the lens LEN₁ so as to generate the light-sensed signal S_(LSM). In addition, when the reading signal S_(RE) represents “reading”, the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) outputs the light-sensed signal S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM), respectively.

The distance-calculating circuit 140 comprises a plurality of storing units for respectively storing the light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM) outputted by the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M). The distance-calculating circuit 140 sets the attributes of the received light-sensed signals according to the phase signal S_(P). In the present embodiment, the distance-calculating circuit 140 is illustrated to comprise M storing units M₁˜M_(M) for example. When the phase signal S_(P) represents “sum”, the storing units M₁˜M_(M) set the attributes of the received light-sensed signals positive. That is, the received light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM) are marked as positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜S_(LSM+) according to the phase signal S_(P) representing “sum”. When the phase signal S_(P) represents “noise”, the storing units M₁˜M_(M) set the attributes of the received light-sensed signals negative. That is, the received light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM) are marked as negative light-sensed signals S_(LS1−)˜S_(LSM−) according to the phase signal S_(P) representing “noise”. The distance-calculating circuit 140 calculates the measured distance D_(M) according to the positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜S_(LSM+) and the negative light-sensed signals S_(LS1−)˜S_(LSM−). The operation principle of the distance-calculating circuit 140 calculating the measured distance D_(M) is illustrated as below.

As shown in the left part of FIG. 2, during the distance-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the lighting pulse signal S_(LD) represents “lighting” for the lighting component 120 emitting the detecting light L_(ID) to the measured object MO, so that the measured object MO generates the reflecting light L_(RD). Meanwhile, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) representing “turning-on” for the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) sensing the energy of the reflecting light L_(RD) and the background light L_(B), so that the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) generate the light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM) respectively. Then the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 outputs the reading signal S_(RE) representing “reading” for the image sensor 130 outputting the light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM) to the distance-calculating circuit 140, and the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the phase signal S_(P) representing “sum” for indicating the distance-calculating circuit 140 that the received light-sensed signals are the light-sensed signals of the distance-sensing phase. That is, the received light-sensed signals of the distance-calculating circuit 140 at the time are the positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜S_(LSM+). It is assumed that the reflecting light L_(RD) is mainly focused on the sensing unit CS_(K) during the distance-sensing phase (as shown in FIG. 2). The values of the received positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜S_(LSM+) are shown in the right upper part of FIG. 2. The sensing unit CS_(K) senses the background light L_(B) and the reflecting light L_(RD) (that is, the measured object MO images on the sensing unit CS_(K)). Therefore, the light-sensed signal S_(LSK+) is equal to the sum of the energy B_(K), which is accumulated by the sensing unit CS_(K) sensing the background light L_(B), and the energy R_(K), which is accumulated by the sensing unit CS_(K) sensing the reflecting light L_(RD). The other sensing units only receive the background light L_(B). For example, the light-sensed signal S_(LS1+) is equal to the energy B₁, which is accumulated by the sensing unit CS₁ sensing the background light L_(B); the light-sensed signal S_(LS2+) is equal to the energy B₂, which is accumulated by the sensing unit CS₂ sensing the background light L_(B); . . . ; the light-sensed signal S_(LSM+) is equal to the energy B_(M), which is accumulated by the sensing unit CS_(M) sensing the background light L_(B).

As shown in the left part of FIG. 2, during the noise-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the shutter pulse signal S_(ST) representing “turning-on” for the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) sensing the energy of the light focused by the lens LEN₁ so as to generate the light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM). Meanwhile, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the lighting pulse signal S_(LD) represents “not-lighting”. Hence, the lighting component 120 does not emit the detecting light L_(ID) to the measured object MO, so that the measured object MO does not generate the reflecting light L_(RD). Then the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 outputs the reading signal S_(RE) representing “reading” for the image sensor 130 outputting the light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM) to the distance-calculating circuit 140, and the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the phase signal S_(P) representing “noise” for indicating the distance-calculating circuit 140 that the received light-sensed signals are the light-sensed signals of the noise-sensing phase at the time. That is, the received light-sensed signals of the distance-calculating circuit 140 are the negative light-sensed signals S_(LS1−)˜S_(LSM−). The values of the received positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1−)˜S_(LSM−) are shown in the right lower part of FIG. 2. The pulse width of shutter pulse signal S_(ST) during the distance-sensing phase is equal to the pulse width of shutter pulse signal S_(ST) during the noise-sensing phase (both are equal to T_(C)). Therefore, the parts, which corresponds to the background light L_(B), of the light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM) of the distance-sensing phase are equal to the parts, which corresponds to the background light L_(B), of the light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM) of the noise-sensing phase. In other words, the parts contributed by the background light L_(B) of the positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜S_(LSM+) are equal to the parts contributed by the background light L_(B) of the negative light-sensed signals S_(LS1)˜S_(LSM−) (both are equal to B₁˜B_(M)).

After the distance-sensing phase and the noise-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 generates the phase signal S_(P) representing “distance-calculating”. Meanwhile, the distance-calculating circuit 140 deducts the negative light-sensed signals S_(LS1−)˜S_(LSM−) stored in the storing units from the positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜SLsM₊ stored in the storing units. The distance-calculating circuit 140 finds out the storing units having the maximum stored value after the deduction and accordingly determines the imaging location of the reflecting light L_(RD) on the image sensor 130. More particularly, the values of the storing units M₁˜M_(M) of the distance-calculating circuit 140 are respectively equal to the values of the negative light-sensed signals S_(LS1−)˜S_(LSM−) deducting from the positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜S_(LSM+). For instance, the storing unit M₁ stores the value of the negative light-sensed signal S_(LS1−) deducting from the positive light-sensed signal S_(LS1+). Since the positive light-sensed signal S_(LS1+) and the negative light-sensed signal S_(LS−) are both equal to B₁, the stored value of the storing unit M₁ after the deduction is equal to zero. The storing unit M₂ stores the value of the negative light-sensed signal S_(LS2−) deducting from the positive light-sensed signal S_(LS2+). Since the positive light-sensed signal S_(LS2+) and the negative light-sensed signal S_(LS2−) are both equal to B₂, the stored value of the storing unit M₂ after the deduction is equal to zero. Similarly, the storing unit M_(K) stores the value of the negative light-sensed signal S_(LSK−) deducting from the positive light-sensed signal S_(LSK+). Since the positive light-sensed signal S_(LSK+) is equal to (R_(K)+B_(K)) and the negative light-sensed signal S_(LSK−) is equal to B_(K), the stored value of the storing unit M_(K) after the deduction is equal to R_(K). The storing unit M_(M) stores the value of the negative light-sensed signal S_(LSM−) deducting from the positive light-sensed signal S_(LSM+). Since the positive light-sensed signal S_(LSM+) and the negative light-sensed signal S_(LSM−) are both equal to B_(M), the stored value of the storing unit M_(M) after the deduction is equal to zero. In other words, among the storing units M₁˜M_(M), the stored value of the storing unit M_(K) is equal to R_(K), and the stored value of the other sensing units are all equal to zero. Consequently, the distance-calculating circuit 140 determines the positive light-sensed signal stored in the storing unit M_(K) has the energy corresponding to the reflecting light L_(RD). Since the storing unit M_(K) stores the light-sensed signal generated by the sensing unit CS_(K), the distance-calculating circuit 140 determines the reflecting light L_(RD) generated by the measured object MO is mainly focused on the sensing unit CS_(K). In this way, the distance-calculating circuit 140 calculates the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) of FIG. 1 according to the sensing unit CS_(K) and the following formula: D _(CS) =K×W _(PIX)  (1);

In addition, since, in FIG. 1, the straight light L_(F) formed between the focus point O_(F1) of the lens LEN₁ and the sensing unit CS₁ is parallel to the detecting light L_(ID), the included angle θ₁ between the detecting light L_(ID) and the reflecting light L_(RD) is equal to the included angle θ₂ between the straight line L_(F) and the reflecting light L_(RD). In other words, the relation between tan θ₁ and tan θ₂ is represented as the following formula: tan θ₁ =L/D _(M)=tan θ₂ =D _(CS) /D _(F)  (2); wherein L represents the predetermined distance between the lighting component 120 and the image sensor 130 (or between the detecting light L_(ID) and the reflecting light L_(RD)); D_(CS) represents the imaging location of the reflecting light L_(RD); D_(F) represent the focus length of the lens LEN₁. The measured distance D_(M) is represented as the following formula according to the formula (2): D _(M)=(D _(F) ×L)/D _(CS)  (3); as a result, the distance-calculating circuit 140 calculates the imaging location D_(CS) according to the formula (1), and then calculates the measured distance D_(M) according to the predetermined distance L, the focus length D_(F), and the formula (3).

In conclusion, in the distance-measuring device 100, during the distance-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 controls the lighting component 120 to emit the detecting light L_(ID) to the measured object MO. The storing units M₁˜M_(M) store the positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜S_(LSM+) generated by the sensing unit CS₁˜CS_(M) sensing the light (for instance, the reflecting light L_(RD) and the background light L_(B)) focused by the lens LEN₁. During the noise-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 controls the lighting component 120 not to emit the detecting light L_(ID) to the measured object MO. The storing units M₁˜M_(M) store the negative light-sensed signals S_(LS1−)˜S_(LSM−) generated by the sensing unit CS₁˜CS_(M) sensing the light (for instance, the background light L_(B)) focused by the lens LEN₁. Then the stored values of the storing units M₁˜M_(M) are equal to the values of the negative light-sensed signals S_(LS1−)˜S_(LSM−) deducting from the positive light-sensed signals S_(LS1+)˜S_(LSM+). Thus, the stored value of the storing unit M_(K), corresponding to the sensing unit CS_(K) where the reflecting light L_(RD) is focused, is larger than the other storing units. In this way, the distance-calculating circuit 140 determines the reflecting light L_(RD) is focused to the sensing unit CS_(K), and accordingly calculates the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD). Therefore, the distance-calculating circuit 140 can calculate the measured distance D_(M) according to the imaging location D_(CS), the focus length D_(F) of the lens LEN₁, and the predetermined distance L.

Furthermore, in the distance-measuring device 100, the distance-sensing phase and the noise-sensing phase can repeat over and over (for example, Y times), so that the storing units M₁˜M_(M) store the positive light-sensed signals corresponding to the Y distance-sensing phases, and store the negative light-sensed signals corresponding to the Y noise-sensing phases. The parts of the positive light-sensed signals, which corresponds to the background light L_(B) during each distance-sensing phase, are counteracted by the parts of the negative light-sensed signals, which corresponds to the background light L_(B) during each noise-sensing phase. Hence, besides the value of the storing unit M_(K), corresponding to the sensing unit CS_(K) where the reflecting light L_(RD) is focused, is equal to (Y×R_(K)), the values of the other storing units are all equal to zero. In this way, even the reflecting light L_(RD) is so weak that the energy R_(K) sensed by the sensing unit CS_(K) is very small, the distance-measuring device 100 still can enlarge the difference between the value of the storing unit M_(K) and the values of the other storing units by repeating the distance-sensing phase and the noise-sensing phase for several times (that is, Y is enlarged). In this way, in spite of the weak reflecting light L_(RD), the distance-calculating circuit 140 still can correctly determine the storing unit M_(K) having the maximum value, and accordingly calculates the imaging location of the reflecting light L_(RD).

Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation principle of the distance-measuring device 100 reducing the flicker phenomenon. Since the power of the general indoor light sources are from the AC power supply, a part of the background light L_(B) (which is referred as the flicking light L_(F) hereinafter) flicks because of the frequency of the AC power supply. For example, the power of the indoor fluorescent lamp is from the AC power supply. Therefore, the light emitted by the fluorescent lamp is affected by the frequency of the AC power supply, so that the flicker phenomenon is generated. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the cycle of the AC power supply (or the AC cycle) is T_(F) (for example, the frequency of the AC power supply is 60 Hz, and the AC cycle is 0.0167 s). The power P of the AC power supply varies with time. Hence, the power of the flicking light L_(F) varies as well. However, the varying cycle of the power P of the AC power supply is equal to a half of the AC cycle (that is, T_(F)/2). For example, when the time is T, the power P of the AC power supply is equal to P_(T); when the time is (T+T_(F)/2), the power P of the AC power supply is still equal to P_(T). Since the power of the flicking light is proportional to the power P of the AC power supply, the varying cycle of the power of the flicking light L_(F) is equal to a half of the AC cycle (that is, T_(F)/2) as well. In this way, in the distance-measuring device 100, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 controls the time interval between the distance-sensing phases (for example, T₁₊ and T₂₊ shown in FIG. 3) and the noise-sensing phases (for example, T¹⁻ and T²⁻ shown in FIG. 3) equal to a half of the AC cycle T_(F)/2 for reducing the effect of the flicker phenomenon. More particularly, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 controls the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) sensing the flicking light L_(F) corresponding to the power P₁ (or P₂) of the AC power supply during the distance-sensing phase T₁₊ (or T₂₊), so that the parts of the positive light-sensed signals, which correspond to the flicking light L_(F), are equal to F₁₁˜F_(M1) (or F₁₂˜F_(M2)). The lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 controls the time interval between the distance-sensing phase T₁₊ (or T₂₊) and the noise-sensing phase T¹⁻ (or T²⁻) equal to a half of the AC cycle T_(F)/2 (for example, 0.0083 s). As a result, the power of the flicking light L_(F) sensed by the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) during the noise-sensing phase T¹⁻ (or T²⁻) is equal to the power of the flicking light L_(F) sensed by the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) during the distance-sensing phase T₁₊ (or T₂₊). In this way, the parts, corresponding to the flicking light L_(F), of the negative light-sensed signals generated by the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) during the noise-sensing phase T¹⁻ (or T²⁻) are equal to F₁₁˜F_(M1) (or F₁₂˜F_(M2)) as well. Consequently, the parts, corresponding to the flicking light L_(F), of the positive light-sensed signals of the distance-sensing phase T₁₊ (or T₂₊) are counteracted by the parts, corresponding to the flicking light L_(F), of the negative light-sensed of the noise-sensing phase T¹⁻ (or T²⁻) signals. In other words, besides the value of the storing unit M_(K), which corresponds to the sensing unit CS_(K) where the reflecting light L_(RD) is focused, is equal to R_(K), the values of the other storing units are all equal to zero. Hence, even the sensing units CS₁˜CS_(M) sense the flicking light L_(F), the lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 still can reduce the effect of the flicker phenomenon by controlling the time interval between the distance-sensing phase and the noise-sensing phase equal to a half of the AC cycle (T_(F)/2), so that the distance-calculating circuit 140 correctly determines the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) and accordingly calculates the measured distance D_(M).

Since, when the distance-measuring device 100 is assembled during the fabrication, the locations of the components of the distance-measuring device 100 are affected by the assembling error, the distance-measuring device 100 is affected by the assembling error when the distance-measuring device 100 measures the distance. In the present invention, the parameter-calculating circuit 150 of the distance-measuring device 100 is utilized for calibrating the assembling error of the distance-measuring device 100. The operation principle of the parameter-calculating circuit 150 is illustrated as below.

The parameter-calculating circuit 150 receives the known-distance signal S_(D) for obtaining a known distance D_(C1) and a known distance D_(C2), wherein the known distance D_(C1) is the distance between a calibrating object CO₁ and the distance-measuring device 100, and the known distance D_(C2) is the distance between a calibrating object CO₂ and the distance-measuring device 100. By means of the method illustrated in FIG. 2, the lighting component 120 is controlled to emit the detecting light L_(ID) to the calibrating objects CO₁ and CO₂, so that the parameter-calculating circuit 150 can obtain the imaging location of the reflecting light L_(RD) according to the light-sensed signals outputted by the images sensor 130 and accordingly calibrates the assembling error of the distance-measuring device 100.

First, it is assumed that the detecting light L_(ID) emitted by the lighting component 120 rotates a lighting-error angle θ_(LD) because of the assembling error.

Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a calibrating method of calibrating the lighting-error angle θ_(LD) of the detecting light L_(ID) emitted by the lighting-component 120. The lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 controls the lighting component 120 to emit the detecting light L_(ID) to the calibrating object CO₁. The distance between the calibrating object CO₁ and the distance-measuring device 100 is the known distance D_(C1). Since the detecting light L_(ID) is affected by the assembling error of the lighting component 120, the detecting light L_(ID) emits to the calibrating object CO₁ with a lighting-error angle θ_(LD), and the reflecting light L_(RD) generated by the calibrating object CO₁ reflecting the detecting light L_(ID) is focused to the sensing unit CS₁. The included angle between the detecting light L_(ID) and the reflecting light L_(RD) is θ₁₁. The included angle between the straight line L_(F) and the reflecting light L_(RD) is θ₂₁. As shown in FIG. 4, since the straight light L_(F) is parallel to the surface normal of the calibrating object CO₁, (θ₁₁-θ_(LD)) is equal to θ₂₁. That is, tan(θ₁₁-θ_(LD)) is equal to tan θ₂₁. Therefore, the following formulas are obtained: D _(C1)=1/[1/(D _(F) ×L)×D _(CSI) +B]  (4); B=tan θ_(LD) /L  (5); wherein B represents the calibrating parameter for calibrating the lighting-error angle θ_(LD); D_(CSI) represents the imaging location of the reflecting light L_(RD). Thus, the parameter-calculating circuit 150 calculates the calibrating parameter B according to the formula (4). In this way, the parameter-calculating circuit 150 outputs the calibrating parameter B to the distance-calculating circuit 140 through the parameter signal S_(AB), so that the distance-calculating circuit 140 calibrates the formula (2) to be the following formula for calculating the calibrated measured distance D_(M): D _(M)=1/[1/(D _(F) ×L)×D _(CS) +B]  (6); as a result, even the detecting light L_(ID) emitted by the lighting component 120 rotates a lighting-error angle θ_(LD) because of the assembling-error, the distance-calculating circuit 140 still can correctly calculate the measured distance D_(M), according to the calibrating parameter B, the focus length of the lens LEN₁, the predetermined distance L, and the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) when the measured object MO is measured, by means of the parameter-calculating circuit 150 calculating the calibrating parameter B capable of calibrating the lighting-error angle θ_(LD).

Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are diagrams illustrating a calibrating method of calibrating sensing-error angles θ_(CS1) and θ_(CS2) rotated by the image sensor 130 because of the assembling error. FIG. 5 is a top view diagram of the distance-measuring device 100. As shown in FIG. 5, the sensing-error angle θ_(CS1) is on the XY plane. FIG. 6 is a side view diagram of the distance-measuring device 100. In addition, the sensing-error angles θ_(CS1) and θ_(CS2) are both shown in FIG. 6. The lighting/sensing controlling circuit 110 controls the lighting component 120 to emit the detecting light L_(ID) to the calibrating object CO₂. The distance between the calibrating object CO₂ and the distance-measuring device 100 is the known distance D_(C2). In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, it is assumed that the lighting component 120 is assembled correctly (that is, the lighting-error angle θ_(LD) is zero). The detecting light L_(ID) emits to the calibrating object CO₂, and the reflecting light L_(RD) generated by the calibrating object CO₂ reflecting the detecting light L_(ID) is focused to the sensing unit CS_(J). The included angle between the detecting light L_(ID) and the reflecting light L_(RD) is θ_(1J). The included angle between the straight line L_(F) and the reflecting light L_(RD) is θ_(2J). It can be seen in FIG. 6 that D_(CSX) is a projected distance projected by the imaging location D_(CSX) of the reflecting light L_(RD), and the relation between the imaging location D_(CSX) and the projected distance D_(CSX) is represented as the following formula: D _(CSX) =D _(CSJ)×cos θ_(CS2)×cos θ_(CS1)  (6).

In FIG. 5, the straight line L is parallel to the detecting light L_(ID). Consequently, the included angleθ_(2J) between the straight line L_(F) and the reflecting light L_(RD) is equal to the included angle θ_(1J) between the detecting light L_(ID) and the reflecting light L_(RD). That is, tan θ_(1J) is equal to tan θ_(2J). In this way, the relation between the known distance D_(C2) and the projected distance D_(CSX) is represented as the following formula: L/D _(C2) =D _(CSX) /D _(F)  (7); hence, the following formulas are obtained according to the formulas (6) and (7): D _(C2)=1/(A×D _(CSJ))  (8); A=(cos θ_(CS2)×cos θ_(CS1))/(D _(F) ×L)  (9); wherein A represents the calibrating parameter for calibrating the sensing-error angles θ_(CS2) and θ_(CS1). Thus, the parameter-calculating circuit 150 calculates the calibrating parameter A according to the formula (8). In this way, the parameter-calculating circuit 150 outputs the calibrating parameter A to the distance-calculating circuit 140 through the parameter signal S_(AB), so that the distance-calculating circuit 140 calibrates the formula (2) to be the following formula for calculating the calculated measured distance D_(M): D _(M)=1/(A×D _(CS))  (10); it can be seen that even the image sensor 130 rotates the sensing-error angles θ_(CS1) and θ_(CS2) because of the assembling error, the distance-calculating circuit 140 still can correctly calculate the measured distance D_(M), according to the calibrating parameter A, and the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) when the measured object MO is measured, by means of the parameter-calculating circuit 150 calculating out the calibrating parameter A capable of calibrating the sensing-error angles θ_(CS1) and θ_(CS2).

It is assumed that the detecting light L_(ID) emitted by the lighting component 120 rotates the lighting-error angle θ_(LD), and the image sensor 130 also rotates the sensing-error angles θ_(CS1) and θ_(CS2), because of the assembling error of the distance-measuring device 100. The distance-measuring device 100 can obtain the imaging location D_(CS1) of the reflecting light L_(RD) corresponding to the calibrating object CO₁ and the imaging location D_(CS2) of the reflecting light L_(RD) corresponding to the calibrating object CO₂ by the lighting component 120 emitting the detecting light L_(ID) to the calibrating objects CO₁ and CO₂, according to the illustration of FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6. The relations among the imaging locations D_(CS1) and D_(CS2), the known distance D_(C1) between the distance-measuring device 100 and the calibrating object CO₁, the known distance D_(C2) between the distance-measuring device 100 and the calibrating object CO₂, and the calibrating parameters A and B are represented as the following formulas: D _(C1)=1/[A×D _(CS1) +B]  (11); D _(C2)=1/[A×D _(CS2) +B]  (12); the parameter-calculating circuit 150 calculates the calibrating parameter A capable of calibrating the sensing-error angles θ_(CS1) and θ_(CS2), and the calibrating parameter B capable of calibrating the lighting-error angles θ_(LD), according to the formulas (11) and (12). The parameter-calculating circuit 150 outputs the calibrating parameters A and B to the distance-calculating circuit 140 through the parameter signal S_(AB), so that the distance-calculating circuit 140 calibrates the formula (2) to be the following formula for calculating the calculated measured distance D_(M): D _(M)=1/[A×D _(CS) +B]  (13); in this way, even the detecting light L_(ID) emitted by the lighting component 120 rotates the lighting-error angle θ_(LD), and the image sensor 130 rotates the sensing-error angles θ_(CS1) and θ_(CS2) at the same time, the distance-calculating circuit 140 still can correctly calculate the measured distance D_(M) by the parameter-calculating circuit 150 calculating out the calibrating parameter A, which is capable of calibrating the sensing-error angles θ_(CS1) and θ_(CS2), and the calibrating parameter B, which is capable of calibrating the lighting-error angle θ_(LD).

In addition, according to the formula (13), when the distance-calculating circuit 140 calculates the measured distance D_(M), only the calibrating parameters A and B, and the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) when the measured object MO is measured are required. The focus length D_(F) of the lens LEN₁ and predetermined distance L do not have to be known. In other words, even the focus length D_(F) of the lens LEN₁ and predetermined distance L are affected because of the assembling error during the fabrication, the distance-calculating circuit 140 still can correctly calculates the measured distance D_(M) according to the formula (13).

Please refer to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an image sensor 700 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the M sensing units of the image sensor 700 are arranged in N columns and K rows. In the image sensor 700, the horizontal locations (that is, the location in the horizontal direction or in the direction of the X-axis shown in FIG. 7) of the sensing units of the same column are the same. Moreover, it is assumed that the widths of the sensing units CS₁₁˜CS_(NK) are all equal to W_(PIX) and the horizontal location of the left side of the sensing unit CS₁₁ is represented by zero. If the horizontal location of the sensing units of one column is represented by the center of the column, then the horizontal location of the sensing units CS₁₁˜CS_(1K) of the 1^(st) column is represented as 1/2×W_(PIX); the horizontal location of the sensing units CS₂₁˜CS_(2K) of the 2^(nd) column is represented as 3/2×W_(PIX); the horizontal location of the sensing units CS_(N1)˜CS_(NK) of the N^(th) column is represented as [(2×N−1)×W_(PIX)]/2, and so on. Therefore, in the image sensor 700, the horizontal locations of the sensing units of each row can be represented as {1/2×W_(PIX), 3/2×W_(PIX), . . . , [(2×N−1)×W_(PIX)]/2}, according to the above-mentioned illustration.

Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the operation principle of detecting the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) by the image sensor 700. The circle shown in the upper part of FIG. 8 represents the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) on the image sensor 700. That is, the sensing units inside the circle sense the energy of the reflecting light L_(RD) so as to generate the light-sensed signals S_(LS) having the larger values than the other sensing units. For obtaining the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light D_(CS), the light-sensed signals S_(LD) generated by sensing units of each column are respectively summed for obtaining the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS) for each column. For example, the accumulated light-sensed signal generated by summing the light-sensed signals of the sensing units CS₁₁˜CS_(1K) of the 1^(st) column is S_(ALS1); the accumulated light-sensed signal generated by summing the light-sensed signals of the sensing units CS₂₁˜CS_(2K) of the 2^(nd) column is S_(ALS2); the accumulated light-sensed signal generated by summing the light-sensed signals of the sensing units CS_(N1)˜CS_(NK) is of the N^(th) column S_(ALSN), and so on. Since the sensing units sensing the reflecting light L_(RD) generate the light-sensed signals having the larger values, the sensing units near the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) (that is, inside the circle) all generate the light-sensed signals having the larger values. In other words, among the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1)˜S_(ALSN), if the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALSF), which corresponds to the sensing units CS_(F1)˜CS_(FK) of the F^(th) column, has the maximum value, it represents that the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) (that is, the center of the circle) is at the F^(th) column. In this way, the horizontal direction of the F^(th) column is utilized for representing the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD). For instance, as shown in FIG. 8, the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS5) corresponding to the sensing units CS₅₁˜CS_(5K) of 5^(th) column has the maximum value. Therefore, the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) (that is, the center of the circle) is determined at the 5^(th) column. In this way, the horizontal location of the 5^(th) column (9/2×W_(PIX)) can represent the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD).

Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an image sensor 900 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the M sensing units of the image sensor 900 are arranged in N columns and K rows. Comparing with the image sensor 700, in the image sensor 900, the horizontal locations of each sensing unit of one row is shifted by a shifting distance D_(SF), which is assumed to be W_(PIX)/2 in FIG. 9. For example, the horizontal locations of the sensing units CS₁₁˜CS_(N1) of the 1^(st) row can be represented as {1/2×W_(PIX), 3/2×W_(PIX), . . . , [(2×N+1)×W_(PIX)]/2}; the horizontal locations of the sensing units CS₁₂˜CS_(N2) of the 2^(nd) row can be represented as {W_(PIX), 2×W_(PIX), . . . , [2×N×W_(PIX)]/2}; the horizontal locations of the sensing units CS_(1K)˜CS_(NK) of the K^(th) row can be represented as {[1/2+(K−1)/2]×W_(PIX), [3/2+(K−1)/2]×W_(PIX), . . . , [(2×N−1)/2+(K−1)/2]×W_(PIX)}, and so on.

Please refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation principle of detecting the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) by the image sensor 900. The circle shown in the upper part of FIG. 9 represents the imaging location of the reflecting light L_(RD) on the image sensor 900. The accumulated light-sensed signals generated according to the light-sensed signals of the sensing units CS₁₁˜CS_(NK) of the image sensor 900 are S_(ASL1)˜S_(ALSN). The sensing range corresponding to the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1) is the horizontal locations 0˜W_(PIX)/2. Since among the sensing units CS₁₁˜CS_(NK), only the sensing range of the sensing unit CS₁₁ has a part in the sensing range corresponding to the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1), the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS1) is equal to the value of the light-sensed signal generated by the sensing unit CS₁₁. The sensing range corresponding to the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS2) is W_(PIX)/2˜W_(PIX). Since among the sensing units CS₁₁˜CS_(NK), the sensing range of the sensing unit CS₁₁ and the sensing range of the sensing unit CS₂₁ both have a part in the sensing range corresponding to the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS2), the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS1) is obtained by summing the light-sensed signals generated by the sensing unit CS₁₁ and CS₂₁. The other accumulated light-sensed signals can be obtained in similar way. Among the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1)˜S_(ALS2N), if the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALSF) has the maximum value, it represents that the imaging location of the reflecting light L_(RD) (that is, the center of the circle) is at the sensing units CS_(F1)˜CS_(FK) of the F^(th) column. For instance, as shown in FIG. 10, the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS10) has the maximum value. Thus, the imaging location of the reflecting light L_(RD) (that is, the center of the circle) is determined to be at the horizontal location of the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS10). Since the sensing range corresponding to the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS10) is 9/2×W_(PIX)−5×W_(PIX). Consequently, the horizontal location of the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS10) is represented as 19/4×W_(PIX). In this way, the horizontal location 19/4×W_(PIX) represents the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD).

Comparing with the image sensor 700, the image sensor 900 has a higher resolution. For example, when the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) is detected by the image sensor 700, if the horizontal location of the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) (the center of the circle) is actually (17/4)×W_(PIX), the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS5) has the maximum value. Therefore, the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) is represented by the horizontal location 9/2×W_(PIX) of the 5^(th) column. However, if the horizontal location of the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) (the center of the circle) changes to (19/4)×W_(PIX), the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS5) still has the maximum value. That is, although the actual horizontal location of the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) has already changed from (17/4)×W_(PIX) to (19/4)×W_(PIX), the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) is still represented as 9/2×W_(PIX) (the horizontal location of the 5^(th) column) by means of the image sensor 700. However, when the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) is detected by the image sensor 900, if the horizontal location of the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) (the center of the circle) is actually (17/4)×W_(PIX), the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS9) has the maximum value. Therefore, the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) is represented by the horizontal location 17/4×W_(PIX) of the 9^(th) column. If the horizontal location of the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) (the center of the circle) changes to (19/4)×W_(PIX), the accumulated light-sensed signal S_(ALS10) has the maximum value. As a result, the image location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) is represented by the horizontal location 19/4×W_(PIX) of the 10^(th) column. Consequently, the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) are more accurately detected by the image sensor 900. In conclusion, by shifting the horizontal locations of each sensing unit of the same column, the image sensor 900 has the higher resolution than the image sensor 700.

However, in the image sensor 900, the shifting distances between the adjacent rows of the sensing units do not have to be the same. For example, the shifting distance between the 1^(st) and the 2^(nd) rows of the sensing units is W_(PIX)/2; the shifting distance between the 2^(nd) and the 3^(rd) rows of the sensing units is W_(PIX)/4. By such organization, the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) still can be detected by the method illustrated in FIG. 10.

Please refer to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an image sensor 1100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the M sensing units of the image sensor 1100 are arranged in N columns and Q rows. Comparing the image sensor 1100 with the image sensor 700, it can be understood that each sensing unit in the image sensor 700 is a square. However, each sensing unit in the image sensor 1100 is a rectangle. For instance, both the width and the height of each sensing unit of image sensor 700 are equal to W_(PIX), but, the width of each sensing unit of image sensor 1100 is W_(PIX) and the height of each sensing unit of image sensor 1100 is (W_(PIX)×K/Q), wherein Q<K. That is, the long side of each sensing unit of image sensor 1100 is in the vertical direction, and the short side of each sensing unit of image sensor 1100 is in the horizontal direction (the X-axis direction). In other words, each sensing unit of image sensor 1100 has the same width as the each sensing unit of image sensor 700. Although the number Q is smaller than the number K, the total area of the sensing units of one column of the image sensor 1100 is still equal to the total area of the sensing units of one column of the image sensor 700. Similar to the image sensor 700, the image sensor 1100 also provides M light-sensed signals generated by the M sensing units to the distance-calculating circuit 140, so that the distance-calculating circuit 140 calculates the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1)˜S_(ALSN). For example, the accumulated light-sensed signal generated by summing the light-sensed signals of the sensing units CS₁₁˜CS_(1Q) of the 1^(st) column is S_(ALS1); the accumulated light-sensed signal generated by summing the light-sensed signals of the sensing units CS₂₁˜CS_(2Q) of the 2^(nd) column is S_(ALS2); the accumulated light-sensed signal generated by summing the light-sensed signals of the sensing units CS_(N1)˜CS_(NQ) of the N^(th) column is S_(ALSN), and so on. In this way, the distance-calculating circuit 140 obtains the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) according to the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1)˜S_(ALSN) by the method illustrated in FIG. 8, and accordingly calculates the measured distance D_(M).

Comparing with the image sensor 700, it can be seen that in the image sensor 1100, the side of each sensing unit in the vertical direction is longer, so that the number of sensing units of one column is reduced (that is Q<K). Therefore, the number of the accumulating times which the distance-calculating circuit 140 generates the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1)˜S_(ALSN), is reduced as well. Since the total area of the sensing units of one column of the image sensor 1100 is the same as the total area of the sensing units of one column of the image sensor 700, the received energy of the sensing units of each column sensing the light focused by the lens LEN₁ remains unchanged. In other words, when the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) is measured by means of the image sensor 1100, the computation of the distance-calculating circuit 140 generating the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1)˜S_(ALSN) is reduced, and the noise-to-signal ratios of the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1)˜S_(ALSN) are maintained at the same time. In addition, the short side of the sensing units of each column of the image sensor 1100 is in the horizontal direction and the width of each column sensing units is W_(PIX). In other words, when the imaging location D_(CS) of the reflecting light L_(RD) is measured, the image sensor 1100 has the same resolution as the image sensor 700. Thus, comparing with the image sensor 700, it can be seen that the image sensor 1100 reduces the computation of the distance-calculating circuit 140 generating the accumulated light-sensed signals S_(ALS1)˜S_(ALSN) and maintains the resolution of the imaging location D_(CS) in the horizontal direction (that is, the direction of the short side) and the signal-to-noise ratios of the accumulated light-sensed signals as well.

In conclusion, the distance-measuring device provided by the present invention reduces the effect of the background light and the flicker phenomenon by means of removing the parts corresponding to the background light and the flicking light from the light-sensed signals generated by the image sensor. In the image sensor of the present invention, the resolution is improved by shifting the sensing units of adjacent rows. In addition, the present invention further provides a calibrating method of the distance-measuring device. The first imaging location corresponding to the first calibrating object and the second imaging location corresponding to the second calibrating object are respectively obtained by means of the lighting component emits the detecting light to the first calibrating object with the first known distance and to the second calibrating object with the second known distance. The calibrating parameters capable of calibrating the assembling error of the distance-measuring device are calculated out according to the first and the second imaging location, and the first and the second known distance. In this way, the distance-measuring device correctly calculates the measured distance by means of the calibrating parameters, providing a great convenience.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A distance-measuring device of measuring distance according to variation of imaging location, the distance-measuring device having a lighting component, a first lens, and an image sensor, the lighting component utilized for emitting a detecting light to a measured object for the measured object generating a reflecting light, the first lens utilized for focusing a background light or the reflecting light, the image sensor utilized for sensing an energy of a light focused by the first lens so as to generate M light-sensed signals, the distance-measuring device comprising: a lighting/sensing controlling circuit, for controlling the lighting component to emit the detecting light and controlling the image sensor to sense the energy of the light focused by the first lens during a distance-sensing phase, so that the image sensor generates M first light-sensed signals, and for controlling the lighting component not to emit the detecting light and controlling the image sensor to sense the energy of the light focused by the first lens during a noise-sensing phase, so that the image sensor generates M second light-sensed signals; wherein M represents a positive integer; and a distance-calculating circuit, for determining an imaging location of the reflecting light on the image sensor according to the M first light-sensed signals and the M second light-sensed signals, and calculating a measured distance between the distance-measuring device and the measured object according to the imaging location, a focus length of the first lens, and a predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor; wherein the lighting/sensing controlling circuit controls the lighting component to emit the detecting light to the measured object by generating a lighting pulse signal, so that the measured object generates the reflecting light; the lighting/sensing controlling circuit controls the image sensor to sense the energy of the light focused by the first lens by generating a shutter pulse signal, so that the image sensor generates the M light-sensed signals; the lighting/sensing controlling circuit controls the image sensor to output the M light-sensed signals to the distance-calculating circuit by generating a reading signal; the lighting/sensing controlling circuit controls the distance-calculating circuit to receive the M light-sensed signals by generating a phase signal, for the distance-calculating circuit determining the image location of the reflecting light on the image sensor, and calculating the measured distance between the distance-measuring device and the measured object according to the imaging location, the focus length of the first lens, and the predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor.
 2. The distance-measuring device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises: M sensing units arranged in Q rows in a first direction and in N columns in a second direction, and respectively utilized for sensing the energy of the light focused by the first lens according to the shutter pulse signal and accordingly generating the M light-sensed signals, the M sensing units outputting the M light-sensed signals according to the reading signal; wherein the distance-calculating circuit generates N accumulated light-sensed signals according to the M light-sensed signals and calculating the measured distance of the measured object according to the N accumulated light-sensed signals; wherein the distance-calculating circuit accumulates light-sensed signals generated by Q sensing units of an H^(th) column of the M sensing units for generating an H^(th) accumulated light-sensed signal of the N accumulated light-sensed signals; wherein each of the M sensing units is a rectangle; a side of each column of the M sensing units is longer in the first direction, for reducing number of sensing units of each column of the M sensing units and maintaining the received energy of each column of the M sensing units sensing the light focused by the first lens, so that accumulating times that the distance-calculating circuit generates the N accumulated light-sensed signals is reduced and noise-to-signal ratios of the N accumulated light-sensed signals remain unchanged; a short side of each column of the M sensing units is in the second direction, for maintaining a resolution of the image sensor in the second direction; wherein N, Q, and H all represent a positive integer respectively, and 1≦H≦N.
 3. The distance-measuring device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises: M sensing units, respectively for sensing the energy of the light focused by the first lens according to the shutter pulse signal so as to generate the M light-sensed signals, and outputting the M light-sensed signals according to the reading signal.
 4. The distance-measuring device of claim 3, wherein the M sensing units of the image sensor are arranged in N columns and K rows; a location of an X^(th) row of the M sensing units is shifted by a shifting distance from a location of an adjacent (X+1)^(th) row of the M sensing units; X, N, and K all represent a positive integer respectively, and 1≦X≦(K−1).
 5. The distance-measuring device of claim 3, wherein the distance-calculating circuit comprises: a plurality of storing units, respectively for storing the M first light-sensed signals and the M second light-sensed signals; wherein when the phase signal represents sum, the distance-calculating circuit marks the received M first light-sensed signals as M positive light-sensed signals; wherein when the phase signal represents noise, the distance-calculating circuit marks the received M second light-sensed signals as M negative light-sensed signals; wherein when the phase signal represents distance-calculating, the distance-calculating circuit deducts the negative light-sensed signals stored in the plurality of the storing units from the positive light-sensed signals stored in the plurality of the storing units; the distance-calculating circuit selects a storing unit having a maximum stored value so as to determine the imaging location of the reflecting light on the image sensor, and calculates the measured distance between the distance-measuring device and the measured object according to the imaging location, the focus length of the first lens, and the predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor.
 6. The distance-measuring device of claim 5, wherein during the distance-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit generates the lighting pulse signal and the shutter pulse signal, and then generates the reading signal and the phase signal representing sum; during the noise-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit generates the shutter pulse signal, and then generates the reading signal and the phase signal representing noise.
 7. The distance-measuring device of claim 6, wherein when the lighting pulse signal represents lighting, the lighting component emits the detecting light; when the shutter pulse signal represents turning-on, the M sensing units sense the energy of the light focused by the first lens; when the reading signal represents reading, the M sensing units respectively output the M first light-sensed signals or the M second light-sensed signals.
 8. The distance-measuring device of claim 7, wherein during the distance-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit generates the lighting pulse signal representing lighting and the shutter pulse signal representing turning-on, and then generates the reading signal representing reading and the phase signal representing sum; wherein during the distance-sensing phase, a pulse width of the lighting pulse signal representing lighting and a pulse width of the shutter pulse signal representing turning-on are both equal to a first predetermined pulse width.
 9. The distance-measuring device of claim 8, wherein during the noise-sensing phase, the lighting/sensing controlling circuit generates the shutter pulse signal representing turning-on, and then generates the reading signal representing reading and the phase signal representing noise; wherein during the noise-sensing phase, the pulse width of the shutter pulse signal representing turning-on is equal to the first predetermined pulse width.
 10. The distance-measuring device of claim 7, wherein during the distance-sensing phase, a pulse width of the reading signal representing reading and a pulse width of the reading signal representing reading are both equal to a second predetermined pulse width.
 11. The distance-measuring device of claim 6, wherein number of the plurality of the storing units is equal to M; the distance-calculating circuit determines the reflecting light mainly focuses to a K^(th) sensing unit of the M sensing units based on a K^(th) storing unit of the M storing sensing units having a maximum stored value; wherein K represents a positive integer, and K≦M.
 12. The distance-measuring device of claim 11, wherein the distance-calculating circuit calculates the imaging location according to a following formula, based on the K^(th) storing unit of the M storing sensing units having the maximum stored value: D _(CS) =K×W _(PIX); wherein D_(CS) represents the imaging location, W_(PIX) represents a pixel width; wherein a width of each sensing unit of the M sensing units is equal to the pixel width.
 13. The distance-measuring device of claim 12, wherein when the phase signal represents distance-calculating, the distance-calculating circuit calculates the measured distance according to a following formula: D _(M)=(D _(F) ×L)/D _(CS); wherein D_(M) represents the measured distance, D_(F) represents the focus length of the first lens, L represents the predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor.
 14. The distance-measuring device of claim 12, further comprising: a second lens, for focusing the detecting light emitting to the measured object.
 15. The distance-measuring device of claim 1, wherein a time interval between the distance-measuring phase and the noise-measuring phase is equal to a half of an AC cycle.
 16. The distance-measuring device of claim 15, wherein a half of the AC cycle is equal to 0.0083 second.
 17. A distance-measuring device of measuring distance according to variation of imaging location, the distance-measuring device having a lighting component, a first lens, and an image sensor, the lighting component utilized for emitting a detecting light to a measured object for the measured object generating a reflecting light, the first lens utilized for focusing a background light or the reflecting light, the image sensor utilized for sensing an energy of a light focused by the first lens so as to generate M light-sensed signals, the distance-measuring device comprising: a lighting/sensing controlling circuit, for controlling the lighting component to emit the detecting light and controlling the image sensor to sense the energy of the light focused by the first lens during a distance-sensing phase, so that the image sensor generates M first light-sensed signals, and for controlling the lighting component not to emit the detecting light and controlling the image sensor to sense the energy of the light focused by the first lens during a noise-sensing phase, so that the image sensor generates M second light-sensed signals; wherein M represents a positive integer; a distance-calculating circuit, for determining an imaging location of the reflecting light on the image sensor according to the M first light-sensed signals and the M second light-sensed signals, and calculating a measured distance between the distance-measuring device and the measured object according to the imaging location, a focus length of the first lens, and a predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor; and a parameter-calculating circuit, for receiving a known-distance signal outputted by the lighting/sensing controlling circuit so as to obtain a known distance between a calibrating object and the distance-measuring device, and calculating a calibrating parameter for calibrating an assembling-error angle of the distance-measuring device according to the known distance and a first imaging location of the reflecting light when the calibrating object is measured, the parameter-calculating circuit outputting a parameter signal to the distance-calculating circuit according to the calibrating parameter; wherein the parameter-calculating circuit obtains the first imaging location of the reflecting light when the calibrating object is measured according to the light-sensed signal outputted by the image sensor.
 18. The distance-measuring device of claim 17, wherein the assembling-error angle represents a lighting-error angle rotated by the detecting light.
 19. The distance-measuring device of claim 18, wherein the parameter-calculating circuit calculates the calibrating parameter according to a following formula: D _(C1)=1/[1/(D _(F) ×L)×D _(CSI) +B]; wherein D_(C1) represents the known distance; D_(CSI) represents the first imaging location; B represents the calibrating parameter; D_(F) represent the focus length of the first lens; L represent the predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor.
 20. The distance-measuring device of claim 19, wherein relation between the calibrating parameter and the lighting-error angle is represented as a following formula: B=tan θ_(LD) /L; Wherein θ_(LD) represents the lighting-error angle.
 21. The distance-measuring device of claim 19, wherein when the distance-calculating circuit receives the calibrating parameter, the distance-measuring circuit calculates the calibrated measured distance according to a following formula: D _(M)=1/[1/(D _(F) ×L)×D _(CS) +B]; wherein D_(M) represents the measured distance; D_(F) represents the focus length of the first lens; L represents the predetermined distance between the lighting component and the image sensor; D_(CS) represents the imaging location of the reflecting light when the measured object is measured.
 22. The distance-measuring device of claim 17, wherein the assembling-error angle represents a first sensing-error angle and a second sensing-error angle of the image sensor.
 23. The distance-measuring device of claim 22, wherein the parameter-calculating circuit calculates the calibrating parameter according to a following formula: D _(C2)=1/(A×D _(CSJ)); wherein D₂ represents the known distance; D_(CSJ) represents the first imaging location; A represents the calibrating parameter.
 24. The distance-measuring device of claim 23, wherein relation among the calibrating parameter, the first sensing-error angle, and the second sensing-error angle is represented as a following formula: A=(cos θ_(CS2)×cos θ_(CS1))/(D _(F) ×L); wherein θ_(CS1) represents the first sensing-error angle; θ_(CS2) represents the second sensing-error angle.
 25. The distance-measuring device of claim 23, wherein when the distance-calculating circuit receives the calibrating parameter, the distance-measuring circuit calculates the calibrated measured distance according to a following formula: D _(M)=1/(A×D _(CS)); wherein D_(M) represents the measured distance; D_(CS) represents the imaging location of the reflecting light when the measured object is measured. 